Denver attractions

With an elevation of 14,265 feet (4,348 meters), Mount Blue Sky (formerly Mount Evans) is the 12th-highest peak in Colorado and one of the state’s 58 “Fourteeners”—peaks above 14,000 feet (4,300 meters). Part of the Front Range of the Rocky Mountains, it’s easily accessible from Denver via the Mount Blue Sky Scenic Byway and is an ideal high-altitude excursion for a day of scenic hiking, mountain biking, or whitewater rafting.

Meow Wolf Denver (Convergence Station) can barely be contained into words, but let’s try: It’s an interactive playscape of sci-fi-esque, neon worlds. The Denver installment marks the brand’s third and largest permanent exhibition, where visitors wander through a maze of visual and textile delight, like an art museum gone rogue. You have to see it to believe it.

The Denver Botanic Gardens fill more than 24 acres (10 hectares) with a diverse collection of plants from across the world, offering a natural haven in the middle of the Mile High City. The dynamic grounds showcase drought-resistant gardening techniques suited to the local climate as well internationally inspired gardens such as Japanese gardens and a tropical conservatory.

Built in 1882, the 314-acre (127-hectare City Park is Denver’s largest urban green space. The park is home to two lakes, two playgrounds, picnic sites, sports facilities, and several historical monuments, as well as major attractions, like the Denver Zoo and the Denver Museum of Nature & Science.

In the heart of downtown Denver, Elitch Gardens is an amusement park featuring rides, activities, and entertainment for all ages. From exhilarating roller coasters and plunging towers to gentle kid-friendly rides and refreshing water slides, the park is a family favorite and a popular summer attraction for locals and visitors alike.

This downtown destination is more than just a state-of-the-art aquarium with over 500 species of fish and sea animals. It's also a dining and entertainment complex, as well as a place for aquatic adventures. Host to sea otters, a Stingray Reef touch tank, and even a dive tank where you can snorkel or scuba dive with the sharks, the Downtown Aquarium is one of Denver’s most popular family attractions.

Catering to young kids (up to about age 8), the Children’s Museum of Denver is a fully interactive space designed to inspire future leaders and adventurers. Exhibits encourage children to learn about nature, science, the arts, and more through hands-on fun. There’s also a daily offering of workshops and special activities like storytime, crafts, and even cooking classes for kids.

Thousands of visitors travel to the United States Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs each year, and the academy’s all-faiths Cadet Chapel is the most visited man-made attraction in Colorado. Among the best examples of modern academic architecture, the striking 150-foot-tall (46-meter-tall) chapel is designed with 17 spires created from aluminum, steel, and glass.

A premier education center in America’s Southwest, the Denver Museum of Nature & Science boasts a planetarium, an IMAX theater, and a wide range of exhibits that showcase the biological and geological history of Earth and the universe. Exhibits range from ancient artifacts to interactive virtual-reality zones the whole can family can explore.

Set in a historic fire station in downtown Denver, the Denver Firefighters Museum offers a fascinating glimpse into the day-to-day lives of firefighters. Visitors will learn about the training, work, and history of Denver’s courageous firefighters through hands-on activities and interactive exhibits. Adults and children alike are drawn to the museum’s large collection of vintage fire trucks.

Set high in the Rocky Mountains, Winter Park Resort’s 3,000 acres (1214 hectares) have a remote feeling despite being one of the closest ski resorts to downtown Denver. The resort’s typical 300 inches (762 centimeters) of snow and 300 days of sunshine each year make it one of the most popular skiing destinations in the US for beginners and experts alike.

The Colorado Trail offers an outdoor experience ranging from breathtaking to “life-changing,” according to people who have hiked all or even just a portion of its 500 miles (805 kilometers). Ideal for hikers, runners, and bikers alike, it runs from outside Denver to Durango, carving through eight mountain ranges and seven national forests.

Home of the NFL’s Denver Broncos, Empower Field at Mile High is renowned for its vibrant game-day atmosphere and Rocky Mountain backdrop. Opened in 2001, the stadium seats 76,000 fans, offers state-of-the-art amenities, and also hosts concerts and cultural events in addition to football games.

Denver’s Coors Field offers views of two types of Rockies: the state’s famous Rocky Mountains, naturally, and the Colorado Rockies, the Major League Baseball team. One of the league’s best stadiums, Coors Field fits more than 50,000 spectators for a rousing day at the ballpark, right in Denver's trendy LoDo (Lower Downtown) neighborhood.

Embrace the spirit of the great Colorado outdoors in Grand Lake, home of the state’s largest natural lake, located at the entrance to Rocky Mountain National Park. At an 8,300-foot (2,530-meter) elevation, enjoy brisk mountain air and year-round outdoor activities ranging from hiking and biking to fishing, golfing, and lake tours.

Set in the northern corner of Denver’s City Park, the Denver Zoo is the city’s most visited family-friendly attraction. This 80-acre (32-hectare) site is home to over 700 species, including some of the world’s rarest animals, like the Amur leopard, Siberian tiger, and black rhino. Most animals live within naturalistic habitats, an idea the zoo pioneered with its construction of Bear Mountain in 1906.

The Georgetown Loop Railroad is a narrow-gauge historic railroad that runs between Georgetown and Silver Plume, Colorado. One of the state’s first tourist attractions, the railroad takes passengers on a 4.5-mile (7-kilometer) ride through spectacular scenery in the rugged Rocky Mountains.

History Colorado was established in 1879 and currently operates four historic sites and seven museums, including History Colorado Center. Here you’ll find exhibits, artifacts, and hands-on activities about the history of the state and the American West. The center also hosts regular lectures, rotating exhibits, and other events for kids and adults.

A fixture of Denver’s LoDo neighborhood, the Dairy Block is a walkable micro-district of bars, restaurants, shops, and a boutique hotel—all with a backdrop of art installations by Colorado creatives. The mixed-use space is named after the old Windsor Dairy and nods to its past with the Denver Milk Market food hall, which, along with a weekly events calendar of Taco Tuesdays and trivia nights, offers something for every crowd.

A green oasis east of busy Capitol Hill, Cheesman Park’s 80 acres (32 hectares) consist of grassy lawns, a Greek-style marble pavilion, and winding paths popular among joggers, cyclists, and dog walkers. If you don’t stumble upon one of the many community events held at the park throughout the year, you’ll still find plenty to enjoy among the playgrounds, picnic tables, and views of the surrounding mountains.

From the heart of Washington Park—surrounded by serene gardens, lakes, and lawns—it is hard to believe you are in the middle of Denver, Colorado. The 115-acre (60-hectare) park includes a replica of George Washington’s Mount Vernon garden, an extensive network of running trails, and a boathouse overlooking the lake.

Gaze at paintings of wide open landscapes, gold-seeking cowboys, and other emblems of the American West at Denver’s American Museum of Western Art. Housed in the Victorian-era Navarre building, the museum tells the story of the West through the lauded Anschutz Collection’s more than 600 paintings, drawings, and sculptures from the 19th century to the present day.